Book contents
- Rome in the Ninth Century
- British School at Rome Studies
- Rome in the Ninth Century
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures
- Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations
- Ninth-century Popes
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Rome in 800: The Pontificate of Leo III
- 3 Paschal I, the Church of Santa Prassede and the Question of a ‘Carolingian Renovatio’ in Rome
- 4 Paschal I: Other Projects
- 5 Eugenius II, Gregory IV and Sergius II
- 6 The Gathering Storm: The Pontificate of Pope Leo IV (847–55)
- 7 Benedict III, Nicholas I and Hadrian II, and the Continuing ‘Greek’ Presence in Rome
- 8 The Last Hurrah: John VIII (872–82)
- 9 ‘Not with a Bang but a Whimper’
- Afterword
- Bibliography
- Index
3 - Paschal I, the Church of Santa Prassede and the Question of a ‘Carolingian Renovatio’ in Rome
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 October 2023
- Rome in the Ninth Century
- British School at Rome Studies
- Rome in the Ninth Century
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures
- Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations
- Ninth-century Popes
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Rome in 800: The Pontificate of Leo III
- 3 Paschal I, the Church of Santa Prassede and the Question of a ‘Carolingian Renovatio’ in Rome
- 4 Paschal I: Other Projects
- 5 Eugenius II, Gregory IV and Sergius II
- 6 The Gathering Storm: The Pontificate of Pope Leo IV (847–55)
- 7 Benedict III, Nicholas I and Hadrian II, and the Continuing ‘Greek’ Presence in Rome
- 8 The Last Hurrah: John VIII (872–82)
- 9 ‘Not with a Bang but a Whimper’
- Afterword
- Bibliography
- Index
Summary
This chapter is devoted entirely to the Roman church of Santa Prassede, the principal surviving architectural project of Pope Paschal I (817–824). Its function as a major urban repository for the relics of the city’s Early Christian saints and martyrs, more than 2000 of which were brought here from the extramural catacombs, determines both the architectural model (Saint Peter’s) and many aspects of the decoration in mosaic, mural painting and sculpture. Special attention is devoted to the San Zeno chapel, the burial site of Paschal’s mother, Theodora, whose mosaic programme, including her portrait, is completely preserved and reflects that function. Consideration is given to Richard Krautheimer’s suggestion that this church constitutes evidence for a ‘Carolingian renascence’ of architectural forms associated with the first Christian emperor, Constantine.
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- Rome in the Ninth CenturyA History in Art, pp. 51 - 85Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2023